Tesamorelin · research summary

Effects of tesamorelin on hepatic transcriptomic signatures in HIV-associated NAFLD.

JCI insight · 2020. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Transcriptomic analysis of paired liver biopsy specimens from a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
“The current study leveraged paired liver biopsy specimens from this trial to identify hepatic gene pathways that are differentially modulated by tesamorelin versus placebo.”

Subjects

Individuals with HIV and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
“In individuals with HIV and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, tesamorelin upregulated hepatic expression of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation and downregulated genes related to inflammation and liver fibrosis.”

Sample size

39 participants (18 tesamorelin, 21 placebo) with RNA-Seq data included in the analysis
“resulting in a total of 18 participants randomized to tesamorelin and 21 randomized to placebo with RNA-Seq data included in our analysis.”

Duration

1 year
“In a recent randomized placebo-controlled trial, we demonstrated that the growth hormone–releasing hormone analog tesamorelin reduced liver fat and prevented fibrosis progression in HIV-associated NAFLD over 1 year.”

Reported findings

Tesamorelin increased hepatic expression of gene sets involved in oxidative phosphorylation
“Using gene set enrichment analysis, we found that tesamorelin increased hepatic expression of hallmark gene sets involved in oxidative phosphorylation and decreased hepatic expression of gene sets contributing to inflammation, tissue repair, and cell division.”
Tesamorelin decreased hepatic expression of gene sets contributing to inflammation, tissue repair, and cell division
“Using gene set enrichment analysis, we found that tesamorelin increased hepatic expression of hallmark gene sets involved in oxidative phosphorylation and decreased hepatic expression of gene sets contributing to inflammation, tissue repair, and cell division.”
Changes in hepatic gene expression correlated with improved fibrosis-related gene score among tesamorelin-treated participants
“Notably, among tesamorelin-treated participants, these changes in hepatic expression correlated with improved fibrosis-related gene score.”

Limitations stated by the authors

Relatively small sample size and inability to determine if gene expression changes are direct effects of tesamorelin or mediated by other biological effects due to only two time points
“Limitations of our analysis include its relatively small sample size.”

Source: PubMed 32701508 · DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.140134 · all study summaries

Reported findings

Tesamorelin increased hepatic expression of gene sets involved in oxidative phosphorylation

“Using gene set enrichment analysis, we found that tesamorelin increased hepatic expression of hallmark gene sets involved in oxidative phosphorylation and decreased hepatic expression of gene sets contributing to inflammation, tissue repair, and cell division.”

Tesamorelin decreased hepatic expression of gene sets contributing to inflammation, tissue repair, and cell division

“Using gene set enrichment analysis, we found that tesamorelin increased hepatic expression of hallmark gene sets involved in oxidative phosphorylation and decreased hepatic expression of gene sets contributing to inflammation, tissue repair, and cell division.”

Changes in hepatic gene expression correlated with improved fibrosis-related gene score among tesamorelin-treated participants

“Notably, among tesamorelin-treated participants, these changes in hepatic expression correlated with improved fibrosis-related gene score.”